Experiences of Successfully Stopping Antipsychotic Medication: Maintaining Wellbeing During and After Withdrawal

People often attempt to stop taking antipsychotic medication. Unwanted withdrawal effects, high rates of relapse, and relatively low rates of success are well documented. Longitudinal studies suggest those who stop taking AMs... [ view full abstract ]

People often attempt to stop taking antipsychotic medication. Unwanted withdrawal effects, high rates of relapse, and relatively low rates of success are well documented. Longitudinal studies suggest those who stop taking AMs may have better functional recovery outcomes than those who persist. But there is very little existing research regarding how people effect their outcomes during the withdrawal process or following discontinuation. There has been no research that explores how the people who successfully stop taking AMs manage their experiences. We are left with a body of literature that has begun to argue for alternatives, but lacks evidence about how people transition towards them once they have already started taking AMs. A small series of semi-structured interviews were carried out with people who completed the Experiences of Antipsychotic Medication Survey and indicated having successfully stopped AMs for more than a year. Seven women who had successfully stopped taking antipsychotic medication volunteered to participate in an interview about how they had maintained their wellbeing during and after the withdrawal process. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was used to analyse the central themes discussed. Three major themes were expressed by all seven participants: 1) Understanding Myself and My Needs; 2) Finding What I Need to Cope; 3) Connecting with Support. A range of sub-themes within each of these major threads provides a summary of what psycho-social resources may assist people to stop taking AMs and manage without them. Results suggest there are many ways in which people can affect their own outcomes and highlight a role for professionals across the entire treatment system in addition to natural supports.